Mark McFarland (UBP) | Brexit has had a cathartic effect which is likely to continue for a long time. Although Asia as a whole does not have very close links to the UK, the Asian markets are very sensitive to global growth, investment flows and interest rates in US dollars. What happens next in Europe will be crucial for Asia in the next few months.
There are a lot of indicators which basically show that the US economy is strong, but it’s a “weak” strength, since it has been unable to maintain average growth of 2%. A weakness I see in the US economy is investment: in the second quarter it declined, which is not a sign of strength.
J. L. Martínez Campuzano (Spanish Banking Association) | The BoJ has begun a period of reflection to try to answer the question of why expansionary monetary measures are not being reflected in higher inflation. I honestly believe that this is a reflection which other central banks should undertake. But, in the end, the easiest thing will always be to continue with more measures without a clear strategy of what their final objectives are.
Why are interest rates so low? We have explained that the reason is the weak credit situation for financing investment.
Fidelity | In line with expectations, the Bank of England’s monetary policy committe voted unanimously to cut interest rates – for the first time since 2009 – by 0.25%. It also announced a package of additional measures, such as an extension of the current quantative easing programme (including corporate bond purchases) and a new liquidity line (Term Funding Scheme).
The outstanding labour market performance in the US has triggered widespread speculation of a Fed rate hike as early as September. Nonetheless, most new jobs are part-time, while the hourly wage increase lags well behind its pre-crisis pace.
J. L. Martínez Campuzano (Spanish Banking Association) | Perhaps one of the most important conclusions of the G20 meeting held in China was the need for monetary and fiscal instruments to fuel demand. But also for reforms to adjust supply and increase growth potential. There is no doubt that every instrument of economic policy is needed in the fight against weak growth and low inflation.
CaixaBank | Everything is ready for the inauguration of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on Friday. This is the most important global sporting event and Brazil is the first South American country ever to have hosted the games. But what will the economic impact be for the country which is in recession?
In an internal report, the IMF has confessed to errors linked to the bailouts in which it participated during the euro crisis, according to what Ambrose Evans-Prichard tells us. Just what the euro needed: explicit recognition, in black and white, that nothing could be done about the “infamy of competitive devaluation.”